Question

Silica has been a recognized hazard for many years, yet it took OSHA many years to update its standards. Why do you think it takes the Agency so long to change its regulations?

Do you think that OSHA has been effective in reducing injuries and illnesses through current standard setting process?

Should OSHA regulations be applied in operations across the world?

Should international workers that are employed by the same U.S. company or part of its supply chain, should they be afforded the same protections as those U.S. workers who are covered by the new silica standard?

What do you think? Should a company require all divisions regardless of location to comply with OSHA standards, like silica in construction? Should companies also require that their trading partners conform to OSHA standards?

Answer 1

1. In my opinion, OSHA took so many years to update it's standard since a lot of testing and approvals are required before any standard is updated. Also since OSHA is a government regulated organization and the working is strictly regulated and slow due to a lot of bureaucracies involved, hence it takes a lot of time to update any standard.

2. In my opinion, OSHA has not been effective in reducing injuries and illnesses through current standard setting process because till the time standard is set, a lot of injuries and illnesses already happen and respite is provided at a very later stage. In order to provide immediate respite and reduce injuries, OSHA is required to take quick action and update it's standards in a short span of time.

3. Yes in my opinion, OSHA regulations should be applied in operations across the world. This is because there are less standards and governing authorities across the world and a lot of fatalities and injuries happen across the world due to poor regulations and processes. Hence OSHA regulations must be applied in operations across the world.

4. Yes, the international workers that are employed by the same US company or part of its supply chain should be afforded the same protections as those US workers who are covered by the new silica standard since the international workers also represent a US company and come under OSHA regulations since they work for US company and OSHA regulations are applicable for all US organizations.

5. In my opinion, a company should require all divisons and their trading partners to confirm to OSHA standatds regardless of their location since all the divisions and trading partners are company representatives only and are part of US company only and every US company must be governed by OSHA standards.